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 Director
: Frank Oz
Starring
: Steve Martin, Michael Caine, Glenne Headley, Anton Rogers,
Barbara Harris, Ian McDiarmid, Dana Ivey
Picture
1.85:1 Anamorphic, DD 5.1, Single-Side, Single Layer, Keep
Case
Running
Time : 106 mins
The
story:
Nice
guys finish last. Meet the winners !
Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) is a smalltime con man sleazing
his way through Europe on whatever handouts he can scam.
Lawrence Jamieson (Michael Caine) is an impeccably dressed
and educated artiste who thinks Freddy’s giving him, and
all con men, a bad name. Lawrence agrees to help Freddy
spruce up his stunts and his wardrobe. But when it becomes
apparent that the Riviera isn’t big enough for the both
of them, they make a winner-takes-all wager over the fortune
of a naïve American soap heiress (Glenne Headly): the first
one to 'clean her out' can make the other clear out - and
keep the Riviera and its unsuspecting tourists to himself!.
The
summary:
Remember
the late eighties ? The music, The movies. Most of them
instantly forgettable, but some did shine through to become
classics of the era. The late eighties were a good time
for some stars. Steve Martin in particular done some of
his best work around that time and it was very much the
period in which he was at his funniest. This film is one
of those classics and sees Martin teamed with the always
splendid Michael Caine as a couple of con-men. One an ambitious
amateur, the other a well educated professional.
The
reason that this film works is the relationship between
the two central characters is so perfect. Martins wild &
ambitious Benson is a perfect foil for Caine's upper crust
dignified Jamieson. Frank Oz really manages to capture this
atmosphere brilliantly. Together they create a screen duo
that almost rivals the Martin/Candy teaming of Planes, Train
and Automobiles. For me the highlights of the film are in
the set pieces that so brilliantly show the desperate measures
some people will employ when they are in desperate situations.
The supporting cast are very average and even Glenne Headley
sometimes feels two dimensional, despite her twist ending.
Anton Rogers is worth a mention if only for his atrocious
French accent that drops on more than one occasion and Ian
McDiarmid was obviously in need of some extra cash when
he decided to play Freddy the most boring butler ever seen
in a movie. Overall then the film is a must for any serious
comedy collection and despite the odd nit pick will be one
that you will watch over and over. A true classic of eighties
comedy.
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